Staff Sergeant Ricky Hart Assistant Marine Officer Instructor NROTC Unit, The Citadel Staff Sergeant Hart was born in Beaufort, South Carolina on 9 September, 1987. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005 and attended recruit training with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where he graduated as a meritorious Private First Class. Upon completion of recruit training in February of 2006, Staff Sergeant Hart reported to Marine Combat Training Battalion, Golf Company, and graduated in March of 2006. Staff Sergeant Hart was transferred to NAS Pensacola, where he attended Aviation Warfare Apprentice Training and Avionics Technician Intermediate Level Course, Class A1. While stationed at NAS Pensacola Staff Sergeant Hart was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and graduated his MOS at the top of his class. In October 2006, he was sent to his follow on MOS school aboard Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi Mississippi. It was here Staff Sergeant Hart would learn his primary MOS of Precision Measurement Equipment (PME) Technician by completing General Purpose Electronic Test Equipment Repair and Calibration where he graduated at the top of his class. He also completed Intermediate Level Calibration of Physical/Dimensional and Measuring Systems school. In March of 2007, Staff Sergeant Hart received orders to his first duty station aboard MCAS New River, NC where he served as a Precision Measurement Equipment Technician within the MALS-29 Calibration Laboratory. In 2009 he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal and continued to serve with MALS-29. In August 2010, Staff Sergeant Hart re-enlisted in the Marine Corps and was transferred to MCAS Cherry Point, NC where he was assigned to MALS-14 and served as the Issue and Receive NCOIC for the Calibration Laboratory. It was during this transition that he attained the rank of Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Hart received orders for Drill Instructor Duty in August of 2011 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC for duty in January of 2012. He graduated Drill Instructor School class 2-12 as the honor graduate and was transferred to Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in January 2015, and received orders to return to MCAS Cherry Point, where he managed the Calibration Laboratory as the PME Chief for MALS-14. In 2018 SSgt Hart reported to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit at The Citadel for duty as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor. Staff Sergeant Hart’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon. Staff Sergeant Hart is married to the former Meredith Cornett and they have one child: Avenley. .